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I bade him say: 'Stand! declare unto me who angers thee, O lion!'
578. "He spoke not to the slave, nor did he hear a word. Hastily I mounted, I went along to meet him; I overtook him, I came before him, I said: 'Stay, hearken to me! I too wish to know thine affair. He looked at me, I pleased him, he checked his course.
579. "He looked me over, and said to God: 'How hast Thou made such a tree!' Then he said to me: 'Now will I tell thee what thou askest me: Those enemies whom I had hitherto esteemed as goats have proved lions to me; they fell upon me traitorously when I was unready, I could not don mine armour.'
580. "I said: 'Stand, be calm, let us dismount at the foot of the trees! A goodly knight[1] withdraws not when cuts are given with the sword.' I led him with me; we went away fonder than father and son.[2] I marvelled at the tender beauty[3] of the knight.
581. "One of my slaves was a surgeon,[4] he bound up the wounds, he drew out the arrowheads so that the wounds hurt not. Then I asked: 'Who art thou, and by whom was thine arm hurt?' He set himself to tell me his story; he bewailed himself.
582. "First he said to me: 'I know not what thou art, nor to what I can liken thee. What has thus consumed thee, or who first made thee full?[5] What has turned thee sallow who wert planted rose and jet? Why has God put out the candle lighted by Himself?
583. "'Near by is the city of Mulghazanzari,[6] which belongs to me. My name is Nuradin P'hridon, I am the king ruling there; here where ye are stationed is my boundary. I have little, but in all its parts it is of excellent quality.[7]
